श्रीमदानन्दतीर्थार्यमुखनिःसृतम्

shrImadAnandatIrthArya mukha nihsR^itaM

....................  आवस्तु निर्णयात् ।

श्रवणं मननं चैव कर्तव्यं सर्वदैव हि ।।

मतिश्रुतिध्यानकालविशेषं गुरुरुत्तमः ।

वेत्ति तस्योक्तमार्गेण कुर्वतः स्याद्धि दर्शनम् ।। अनु ३.३

AvastunirNayAt.h shravaNaM mananaM caiva kartavyaM sarvadaivahi |

mati shruti dhyAnakAlavisheShaM gururuttamaH |  

vetti tasyoktamArgeNa kurvataH syaddhi darshanaM ||  Anuvyakhyana 3.3

Purport:

Even the great devatas continue to listen and contemplate upon the Supreme Brahman as expounded in the shAstras even after obtaining the knowledge about Brahman.

Here one need not doubt that there is no end to this process of listening and contemplation as even the great devatas also continue to study the shAstra even after getting the knowledge about Brahman. One is required to carry on this process of study only until one gets the decisive knowledge about Brahman.

Here one may ask - "Is it possible to get such decisive knowledge? Or even if we agree that it is somehow possible, how can we decide that we have got the necessary knowledge about Brahman and there is no need for further study? We can never reach that stage because, even after getting the knowledge of Brahman, there is every chance of getting into doubt by listening to contradictory viewpoints".

The answer to this question is as follows - Only a realized guru, who knows fully, the nature and capabilities of the disciple, would be able to foretell for how long a pupil has to continue the study of the scriptures. Thus, one can know the duration and course of one's study from the directions of his own Guru. There will be a point of time when the pupil gets unwavering knowledge about Brahman and also gets a strong conviction which is unshakeable even under most testing circumstances. From that point onwards further study becomes optional.